The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-09-16
BELLlcosE CONGRESSMAN.
Memorable Scene I'm the House Nearly
Thirty Years Ago.

a
Thirty Years Ago.
CBen: Perley PORES RecouectionsI
The scrimmage in the house of representa-
tives early on Saturday morning, Feb. g.
1858, was an exciting affair as seen from the
reporters gallery 1t was inaugurated by
Keitt, of South Carolina, who rushed belli-
gerently at Grow, Of Pennsylvania, when he
received-not from Grow, however-a blow
that knocked him down. a dozen southern
men at once left their seats and rushed to the
spot, while as many anti-Lecompton men
came to the rescue. Foremost came Mr.
Potter Of Wisconsin, a very athletic, COM
pact man. who bounded into the center of
the excited group striking right and left
with tremendous vigOr. Washburne, Of
Illinois, and his brother. of Wisconsin, also
were prominent, and for minute or two it
seemed as though we were to have a Kill
kenny fight on magnificent scale
Barksdale had hold of Grow, when Potter
struck him severe blow, supposing that he
was hurting that gentleman. Barksdale,
turning around and supposing it was Eihu
WashbuTne who struck him, dropped Grow
and struck out at the gentleman from Hi
moss. Cadwallader Washburne perceiving
the attack upon his brother, also made a
dash at Mr.. Barksdale and seized him by the
hair, apparently for the purpose of drawing
him into chancery" and pun melting him to
greater satisfaction. Horrible to relate, Mr..
Barksdale's wig came off in Cadwallader's
left hand, and his right fist expended itself
with tremendous force against the unresist-
ing air This ludicrOus incident unquestion-
ably did much towards restoring good ma
ture subsequently, and its effect was height
ened not little by the fact that in
the excitement of the occasion Banks
dale restored his wig wrong side foremost.
The speaker yelled and raped for order,
without effect. Tie sergeant alarms
stall1ed to the scene of battle. mace in hand,
but his "American eagle had no more effect
than the speakers gavel. Owen Lovejoy,
and Lamar, of Mississippi, were paving each
other at one pOint-each probably trying to
persuade the other to be still. Mr. Mott, the
gray-haired Quaker representative from
Ohio, was seen going here and there in the
crowd. Davis, of Mississippi, got a severe
but accidental blow from Mr.. Grow and
various gentlemen sustained slight bruises
and scratches. Virginia representative,
who thought Montgomery, of Pennsylvania,
was about to pitch in" laid his hand upon
his arm to restrain him, and was peremp-
tOrily ordered to desist or be knocked
down. Mr. Covode, of Pennsylvania, caught
up heavy stoneware spittoon with which
to 'brain" whoever might seem to deserve it,
but fortunately did not get far enough into
the excited crowd to find an appropriate sub
ject for his vengeance, and all over the hall
everybody was excited for the time.
Fortunately it did not last long and no
weapons were openly displayed When order
was restored several gentlemen were found
to present an excessively tumbled and dis
ordered appearance, but there remained lit
tie else to recall the excitement. Gentlemen
of opposite parties crossed over to each
other to explain their pacific dispositions and
that they got into fight where their only
purpose was to prevent a fight. Mutual ex-
plantations and hearty laugh at the ludi-
crous points of the drama were followed by
quiet and return to business.